OBITUARY Nora Katherine Bilton January 1, 1924 – July 9, 2018 Our dear Nora Katherine passed away on Monday, July 9, 2018. Nora is preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, William S. Bilton. She is survived by her son F. Harlan Bilton, and his wife Carol, two grandchildren: James Harlan Bilton, and his wife Elizabeth, and Katherine Bilton Bush, and her husband, Justin Bush, and four great grandchildren: Caroline Bilton, James Bilton, Jr. , Johnathan Bush, and Joanna Bush.
Nora Katherine was born on New Year’s Day, 1924 to Frank McRee Harlan and Nora Ogletree Harlan in Milam County, Texas. After spending her first years in Milam County and then Houston, the family moved to Dallas. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School at the age of 16.
Nora always loved to tell the story of catching the streetcar in downtown Dallas to ride out to the Hilltop on Mockingbird Lane to attend classes at SMU. At SMU, she excelled in her studies and was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Mortar Board. Following graduation, Nora began a 40 year career of service to the SMU School of Business.
Nora was honored to be the recipient of the prestigious “M” Award, from SMU, for outstanding achievement and being an inspiration to others. The Nora Katherine Bilton Award for Management was established in the Cox School of Business to be granted annually to students of outstanding academic achievements. Nora’s pride and joy was her family.
She and Bill were married on April 24, 1945, following his return from active service in England and France during World War II. They endured the loss of an infant daughter, Nora Elizabeth, in January 1947, but rejoiced with the birth of their son Harlan in 1949. Nora was delighted when Harlan married Carol in 1974.
She always claimed she picked Carol out first. She cherished her time with her beloved grandchildren, James and Katherine, and then her four great grandchildren, who adored their ‘Ma’. Always ready to hit the road, Nora loved to travel and see the world.
Whether exploring the back roads of her beloved Texas and the Southwest with Bill by her side, or soaking in the history of the old European countries and the Holy Land on excursions after her retirement, Nora was always ready for an adventure. With a song in her heart and a verse on her lips, Nora was always quick to share a favorite saying or limerick. She was blessed with a long and full life.
We loved her dearly.
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